First of its kind brain scanner trialled in Kent to speed up dementia diagnosis rate
It's hoped the low-field MRI scanner which is smaller and cheaper to use will speed up dementia diagnosis rates.
A first of its kind brain scanner is being trialled in Kent.
It's hoped the low-field MRI scanner which is smaller and cheaper to use will speed up dementia diagnosis rates.
The scanner can be plugged into a standard electrical outlet and does not require specialised infrastructure to operate successfully. They are also portable and offer more flexible configurations, which makes them less claustrophobic for people to use.
Dr Joanne Rodda, Consultant Psychiatrist at KMPT, explained more about how it might be able to help with dementia: "Our work will begin by testing whether the scanner can make it easier and quicker to diagnose dementia, which is currently one of the biggest challenges we face in healthcare.
"It could be a huge step forward in speeding up dementia assessments, giving patients their results more quickly wherever they live, and making the whole process fairer and more joined up."
Low-field scanners are smaller, more affordable, and portable compared to traditional MRI scanners.
One of the first research projects will be a study to determine whether the scanner can help speed up the diagnosis of dementia, and if so, offer one of the biggest changes in decades to the way dementia assessments are conducted.
The research will explore if using them in conjunction with AI, which enhances image quality, makes brain scanning more accessible by offering scans in community settings.
Professor Sukhi Shergill, Director of Research for KMPT and Director of Research at KMMS, highlights how research can help in treating mental illness: "This opportunity could lead to breakthroughs in understanding a number of mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia
"We want to examine the networks in people's brains, over time and at scale, to see how they differ with developing mental illness.
"By investigating brain connectivity and its structure, we can identify links with symptoms and determine which treatments can help restore healthy brain connections."
The scanner, housed at the university, is funded by a successful grant application submitted by KMPT to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).